Pilot headlight



Nov. zz, 1927. 1,650,402

J. A. THOMAS PILOT HEADLIGHT Filed Jan, 27, 1927 nail, 72:02am

Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES- PATENT oFF1cE.-

JAMES ALFRED 'rrroMAafor ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA.

Application ledrJanuary 27, 1927. Serial No. 163,992.V

he object of 'my inventionis to provide akpilot head light forautomobiles and the only other 'connection necessary being a ca-` bleconnection to a movable part of the steering mechanism of theautomobile.

A further object is to provide such a pilot lhead light whichis normallyheld in straight ahead position by springs, the ordinary steer ingoperations ot the automobile when driving straight ahead or slightdeviations there y Jr'rom not affecting the head light.

A further object is to provide my pilot head light so constructed thatupon turning a corner with the automobile, the head light will be swungon a vertical lpivot to illumi- 'nate the road, turning' to the left orright as the case may be. Y y f vStill a 'further object is to `providefor turning the head light to a predetermined position at thecommencement ofthe steering movement to the right or left and tothereafter leav-e the head light remainingin this turned position eventhough vthe steering mechanism is further actuated.

Still a further object is to provide for the return ot the head light toits straight ahead position after the corner of the road has beenturned.

Still a further object is to provide an actul ing the iront wheels oil'the automobile, the

cable connection serving to move the actuated bar in one direction and aspring connection for keeping the cable taut and for actuating the barin an opposite direction.

vWith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, ar- .rangementr and combination of the various parts of myinvention, wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, ypointed out in my claims, and illustrated intheaccompanying drawings, in which: n y

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a portion for an automobile withmy improved pilot head light attached thereto.

Figure 2 isa plan view of the same, parts of the hood, fender apron andfender being brolienaway better to. illustrate the attachment of mydeviceto the automobile parts.

Figure 3 is a side elevation ot' a portion of they automobile frameshowing the cable con,- nection from the steering a'rm 'of theautomobile to my pilot head light..

Figure 41s a-detail sectionalview of my device talren on the lineofFigure 1.

Figure 5 isan enlargedview of the `central portion yof Figure 4, otherparts being shown in vsectionV to illustrate the details of my deviceand'its operation.

Figure 6 is anenlarged detail sectional viedw taken on the line 6-6oflFigure 4; an

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view taken bers 12 to which is securedthrough the me' dium ofleaf springsa front aXle 14. In the usualautomobile construction, frontwheels 16 are pivotally mounted on theaXle 14 Vtoi' the purpose of steering the automobile.

IF or actuating the front wheels 16 of the automobile for the` purposeof steering, a

Vsteering wheel notshown is usually provided and secured to a steeringshaft 18. ,The

steering shaft v18 through suitable gearing mechanism within the casingv20 actuates a steering arm 22.v A drag link 24 connects the lower end ofthe steering arm 22 to a spindle arm 26 on one of the spindles of thefront wheels 16. Thev other front wheel 16 is likewise steered i throughthe medium of a link 28 extending between the two wheels. The foregoingdescription relates to an automobile of ordinary construction and formsno part of my present invention.

My improved pilot head light comprises a bar 30 which may be positionedon top of the automobile frame members 12 in front of the radiator ofthe automobile. The bar 30 is secured to the frame members 12 by meansof U-bolts 32 extending beneath the frame members 12 and up` throughbosses 34 on the bar 30. Nuts 36 are then screwed onto the U-bolts 32tory the purpose of securely clamping the bar 30 to the trame membersl2. It may here be mentioned that a Suitable fastening means other thanthe U-bolts 32 may be provided tor the bar 30 and the bar may bepositioned on bumper supporting arms oli the bumpers now found on a goodmany of the automobilesin use at the present time. i

Spaced above the bar 30 and adjacent the center portion thereot isabearing support 38. The bearing support 38 maybe formed integral withthe bar 30 or may be attached thereto in any manner. Extending throughthev bar 30 is a bearing bushing 40 and extending through the bearingsupport 38 is a similar bearing bushing 42. Rotatably mounted in thebearings 40 and 42 is a vertical shaft 44 having an enlarged head 46formed with an ear 48. rllhe lower end ot the shaft 44 is screw threadedto'i'eceivc a castellated nut which may be tightened on the shat44 toprevent end play up and dow-n of the shaft.

Pivotally mounted by means ot a bolt 56 to the ear 48 are a pair ot headlight supports 52. Secured to the supports 52 by means ot rivets orotherwise is a head light 54. The bolt 5G may be loosened and thesupports and head light may be adjusted to throw `the beam of light tromthe headlight onto the ground any desired distance ahead ot theautomobile.

The vertical shaft 44 is provided with a depression 58, in which Isecure an arm 60 by means ot a bolt 62. The arm 60 has a slot 63 toreceive the bolt 62 whereby the arm (SO may be adjusted longitudinallyrelative to the vertical shalt 44, the purpose ot which will hereinafterbe more fully described.

The arm 50 is provided with a pair o'l' perforated extensions l64extending in opposite directions from each other. The outer end ot' thearm GO is bi'furcated to receive a rotatably mounted roller 66.

Extending upwardly and outwardly trom the bar 30 on either side of thevertical shaft 44 and the arm GO lare biturcated actuating bar supportmembers 68. Springs are connected to these members 58 and to theextensions (54 tor normally holding the arms lgagement with the rollers72. ln the opposite edge vof the actuating bar 74 is a notch 76. Thenotch 76 is normally in dotted line position illustrated in Fioure 5 andthe roller G5 ot the arm GO is positioned between the sides the notchrlhe firm 60 i; r

mally held in this position by the springs 7 0 without being affected byengagement ot the sides oi' the notch 7 G with the roller G6.

Secured to one end oi the actuating bar 74 is a tubular connection 7 Sin the end of which is received a cable 80. The cab-le 8() is held inthe member 7S by set screw S2. he cable extends substantially parallelto the bar 30 and around a pulley d4 supported in a -p'ulley trame S5extending 'from' the bar 3U. 'lhe cable 80 extends bach along the trameol the automobile and over another p ulleyrSS and from there,'to a clampmember 90. 'l`he clamp member 9() extends around the steering arm 22 towhich it is clamped and is secured to the end ot the cable 80.

On the end ot the bar 30 opposite the pulley 84 is an extension 92. theextension 92A and tothe 'free end ot the actuating bar 74 is a spring94. rl`he` spring 94 is tor the purpose otv keeping the cable tautwhereby the actuating bar 74 is properly operated to atleet the kheadlightV 54. in this connection, the cable moves the bar in one directionwhen the steering mechanism ot the car is actuated in one direction andupon actuation et the mechanism inthe other direction the cableslachens, allowing the spring 94 to move the bar 74 in an oppo* sitedirection.

ln operation the automolaile may be asfsumed as maintaining a straightahead course. ln this case there .will usually be slight deviations fromstraight ahead position or oscillations ot the front wheels i6 ot theautomobile. These oscillations would tent. to move the bar incorrespondence therewith. lnasmuch as the `notch 7G wider than thediameter of the roller 6G these oscillations would not atleet the arm 60and consequently would not turn the head light 54 trom its straightahead position which is being maintained by the springs 70.

Upon turning a. corner, the bar74 would be considerably moved forinstance to the position shown in Figure 5. In this case one side oi thenotch 76 would engage the roller GG to swing the arm 6() andconsequently the head light 54 in a diret-.tion to correspond eringmovement oit the liront wheels, Swing the arm Gt) radially about thepivot point established bythe Yc'rtical shaft 44 however swings theroller 66 with it and away from the bottom olI the notch 7G so thateventually the roller 66 becomes disengaged trom the notch 76, theroller itsell' now contacting' with the edge ofthe bar 74 as show-n inFigure `W hen the bar 74 has been moved by theV spring 94 in thedirection of the arrow 96 (Figure 5) to the position shown for instancewith the roller 66 Hooked to straight ahead course the springs 70 willmaintain the head light 5d in a central position. f v i The degree ofpredetermined turning movement ot the head light 54may he varied byloosening the bolt 62 and sliding the arm 60 toward or away trom thebarlll., Thisv causes the roller 66 to extend deeper into the notch 76 orfarther out of it as the case may be thereby affecting the time at which)the roller G6 leaves the notch 76 of the bar (d. unitary pilot headlight construction which may be readily securedto an'automobile withoutthe necessity of securing one part at one point on the automobile andanother at another `point etc. After the unitary Vstructure comprisingthe actuating mechalil nism, supporting bar and khead light have beensecured to the automobile-it isnieiely necessary to hook up thetransmisison mechanism for actuating the ypilot head lightV from a.moving part of the steering mechanism of the automobile.

Some changes may be liiiade in the construction and arrangement of thevarious parts of my light, without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims,any modified forms of structure or use of' mechanical equivalents, whichmay be reasonably included within their scope.

,I claim as my invention:

l. A pilot head light Jfor automobiles comprising a supporting` bar, avertical shaft rotatably mounted thereon, an arm and a head lightsecured to said vertical shaft,

spring means for maintaining said arm iii normal position, an actuatingbar slidably mounted on said supportingbar, the freeend oi" said armbeing arranged in Vthe path 01"' travel of one edge et said actuatingbar, a notch in said. edge for normally receiving said arm wherebymovement of said actuating bar will cause swinging movement of said armto a predetermined position, said vertical shaft being positionedrelative to said actuating bar whereby swinging movement of the arm fromnormal position will cause the arm to swing out of the notch and saidspring means will cause said arm te engage the edge of said actuatingbar and it is obvious that I have provided av thereby maintain the headlight in its predetermined position regardless oliV further movement ofthe actuating` bar, flexible means for connecting onejend of saidactuating bar to a moving part of the steering mechanism of theautomobile and a spring connecting the other ,end ot the actuating barto said supporting bar for maintaining said flexible means taut and forkmoving said actuating bar in one direction. Y

2. .A pilot head light comprising a supporting bar, a vertical shaftrotatably mounted thereon, any arm and a head light secured tosaidvertical shaft, en actuati bar slidably mounted on said support' t",bai', the free end of said arm being arranged iiipthe path otetravel ofone edge of said actuating bai', afnotch in said edge 'for noi'- niall 1receivinO said arm wherebv movement Y i es ii of'said actuating bar willcause swinging movement of said arm to a predetermined position,saidvertical sha'tt being positioned relative to said actuating bai` wherebyswingv ing movement of the arm from normal position will cause the armto swing outjof the notch whereby said arm will engage said edge of theactuating `bar and rotation vof the'v vertical shaft will cease eventhough the sliding movement of theractuating bar conp tiiiues. n

3. A pilot head light comprising a sup- *portingr bar, a vertical shaftrotatably mounted thereon, an arm anda head light secured to saidvertical shatt, spring means for maintaining said arm in normal posi--tion,l an actuating barslidably mounted on Vsaid supporting bar, thefreeend ot said arm being arranged in the path of travel -o' one edge ofsaid actuating bar, a notch in said edge for normally receiving said armwhereby movement of saidactuating bar will cause swinging movement ofsaid arm.

to a predetermined position, said vertical shaft beingpositionedrelative to said actuating bar whereby swinging movement of the arm fromnormal position will cause the arm to swing out of the notch and saidspring means will cause said arm to engage notch between the sides ofwhich the freel end of' the arm normally rests whereby movement of saidactuating bar either direction will cause engagement between a side ofsaid notch and the free end of said aim llOV bar, the iree end of saidarm being adapted to normally rest between the sides of said notch and acable connecting said actuating bar to a moving part oit the steeringmechanism of the automobile whereby movement ot said steering mechanismin either direction will cause said head light to turn in acorresponding direction.

6. ln combination with a vehicle having `frame members extendingforwardly from the vehicle and a movable steering arm mounted on saidframe for actuating the. steerable wheels ot the vehicle, `a pilot headlight comprising a supporting bar mounted on said trame, an oscillatablymountedI head light on said supporting bai', an arm on said head light,an actuating bar slidably mounted on said supporting bar, a notch insaid actuating bar, vthe tree end of said arm being adapted to normallyrest between the sides ot said notch and a cable connecting saidactuating bar to said steering arm whereby movement ot said steering armin either direction will cause said head light to turn in acorresponding direction.

7. A pilot head light comprising a supporting bar mounted on the frameof an automobile in front vof the radiator thereof, a verticalshaft-rotatably mounted on said supporting bar, a head light and an armsecured to said shaft, an actuating bar slidably mounted on saidsupporting vbar adjacent the Jfree end ot' said arm and having a notchbetween the sides ot which the free end of the arm normally restswhereby movement of said actuating bar ingeither direction ywill causeengagement between a side of said notch and the free end oi" said armfor rotating said vert-ical shatt and said head light.

S. A pilot head light comprising a supporting bar mounted on the trameot'an automobile in front of the radiator thereof,

a vertical shaft rotatably mounted Von saidv supporting bar, a headlight and anarm secured to said shait, an actuating bar slid-- ablymounted on said supporting bar adjacent the tree end oil said arm andhaving a;

notch between the sides of which the tree end of the arm normally restswhereby movement of said actuating bar in either direction will causeengagement between a side of' said notch and the free end ot said armtor rotating said vertical shattf and said head light, and means forconnecting said actuating bar to a movable part ot' the steeringmechanism of the automobile,

Des Moines, Iowa, J an. Ll, 1926'.l

JAMES ALFRED THOMAS.

